596 



SCANDINAVIAN KKSHKS. 



Gexls rhodichthys. 



Body tadp(jle-like, irifJi fairly deep and broad head and Mronghj compressed tail, ivJiicli is increased in depth by 

 the great median height of the vertical fins, the margins of which evenly but sharpjy converge towards the caudal 

 fin, tvhich is united at the base to the dorsal (did anal fins, but for Ihc greater part of its length free. Ventral 

 fins filamentous, bifid in the outer part, and inserted below the posterior jiart of the copular row of the hyoid bone. 

 Anal aperture situated in fro)it of the pectoral fins, between the lower corners of the gill-openings, at a consider- 

 able distance from the beginning of the anal fin. Small, cardiform teeth on the intermaxillary bones and in the 

 lotcer jaw; vomer and pcdatine bones toothless. Branchiostegal rays (>. Pyloric appendages 10. No scales; 

 the naked skin transparent. No spines on the head. 



This genus is one of the most handsome discoveries 

 made in the depths of tlie sea by the Norwegian Arctic 

 Expedition. The form of the body reminds us strongly 

 enough of tlie Great Forked Beard; but the loose, al- 

 most gelatinous, and naked, almost transparent l)ody 

 most nearly resembles that of tlu' other true deep-sea 

 fislies within the Ophidioid faniih'. According to CuL- 

 i.ETT the ventral tins are "tirndv united ti> the hyoid 

 bone" — the genus is thus referred to this subfamil}' — 

 but according to the figui'e these fins are set conijiara- 

 tively far back, considerably further ])ack than in a true 

 Ophidium, and Lilljeborg says they are "attached to 

 the shoulder-sirdle." In the latter case the <xenus ought 



rather to be ranged among the subfamily Brotulince. 

 In the form of the body too, as Lilejeborg has already 

 remarked, it comes very near Batliyorius, one of the 

 Brotulince : but tlie opercular spine and the scales are 

 wanting, and in Bathyonus the vent is situated close 

 to the beginning of tlie anal tin. The limit l)etween 

 these subfamilies is, liowever, rathei' uncertain, fixed 

 as it is according to a character wliich is an expres- 

 sion for the general rule among the Physoclysts that 

 the ventral fins move forward ^vith increasing age and 

 advancing develoi)Uient of form. 



( hily one species of the genus is kno\\ii. 



THE ROSE FISH (sw. eosenfisken). 



iiiioDicnTiiYS i;ei;l\"a. 



Fig. 142. 



Length of the head {in a male nearly H dm. long) about ' ., of that (f the body. Greatest depth of the body about 

 '/s of its length and almost equcd to the distance bet/recn the rent and the tip of the snout. Breadth straight 

 across the cheeks greater than the posforbital length of the head and ((bout ^. r, "/ the entire length of the liead. 

 Breadth of the interorbital space ((bout "r, "./" Ike entire length of the head (oid about '4 of the postorbital length 

 thereof. Outer diameter of the iris '/j of the entire length of tlie head and someichat more than. ^,'^ of the piost- 

 orbital length of the head or than ^j, of the length of the snout. Mouth broad, both terminal and lateral; the 

 maxillary bones extend somewhat behind the perpendicular from the hind margin of the iris. Lower jaw shorter 

 in front than the ujipier jaw. Nostrils set far apart, the piosterior pair separated from the eyes by a distance cijual 

 to the diameter of the latter, the anterior pair ((bout half-way between the jiosterior and the tip of the snout. Height 

 of the gill-openings e(p((d to tlie breadth across the cheeks. Distance between the dorsal fin and the tip of the snout 

 slightly greater than the length of the head and about ■* /- of the distance befireen the anal fin and the same point. 

 Greatest height of the dorscd fin "' ,„ of the depth of the body at the beginniny of the fin: greatest height of the 

 amd fin ''/]„ of the depth oj the body at the beginning of the fin. Depth of the base of the (a(((lal fin rather 

 more than V3 ^/ Ike diameter of the iris. Length of flic (■ai(d(d fin eijual to the breadth of the interorbital sjiace. 

 Length of the pectoral fins about ecpual to the postorbital length of the head. Ijcngth of the ventral fins about e(p(al 

 to the distance beticeen the anal fin and the tip of the snout. Coloration dark cariKdion. irifh a few lighter, clouded 

 spots: branchiostegal memhranes deep crimson : peritoneum, branchial carity, and pharynx blacli. 



R. hi: G; 1>. GO; A. 57; P. 11 1. 12; C. 10. 

 S)/>i. ft'limlifhth;/s fcgiiitt, Coi.i,., Forli. Vid. Selsk. Christ. 1878, 

 No. 14, p. 99; N. Nord/i. Exped., ZooL, Fiske, p. 



154, fab. V, figs. ; 

 II, p. 238; Gtiir. 

 121. 



I — 39; LiLiJ., ^V., Noyij. Fisl\, vol. 

 Deep ISeit Fish., Vhall. K.rped.. p. 



